New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-09
"AS YOU LIKEIT" AMID TREES
THE PLAY AT MANcHEsrER-BY -THp.sEA
ART AND NATURE sKILPULLY COMBINED by Nus
AGNES BOOTH scHoEFFEL AND HER BRILLIANT
ASSOCIATES.
.nY rrLEaRAPH ro rHE rRrnrrxr.l !

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Mass, Aug s-The monofopy
Of life tedious everywhere but It sometimes becomes
grievous burden I'm a summer hotel at the seaside.
Anything that will break the monotony OF life IL,
therefore, welcome and precious, even In such Charm
Ing place this, and this is place of exceptional
Interest and comfort. Manchester, as perhaps some
of readers do know, lies on the sonth side
Of Cape Ann, about twenty five miles mort east Of Bos-
ton Its shore while less rugged and less romantic
than those of Gloucester and Rokpot which lie az the
extremity of the cape, is haowo by charm Of peace
iul beauty such may well endear it to eyory lover
of picturesque scenery at once serene and bold The
old village is cluster Of hOme-likc houses, strung
Upon the turnpike, ancient stage roai which winds
around the base of gentle declivy at some distance
nom the ocean. a now village, compO ed of scattered
Villas has sprung up to the and of this tho
centre is the MasconOmo House, built In 1873 by the
late Junlus Brutus Booth. Its situation is uneom-
monty fine. 1t is ong. low, red. spacious cruci-
form building with CORRIDOR and many IN it,
and the ocean winds sweep freely through It In every
part Its shore front faces almost west AM look
toward the old village bosomed among distant trees.
Its seaward front faces almost eastward aud looks
noble green lawn fully six hundred feet square,
on the remote margin OF which is a dense fringe Of
bushes and small trees At the right is long, dusky
thicket at the left Is a promontOry splendid mass
of gnared rock projecting into the ocean In mont
beyond the OF bushes Is sumptnOUS beech and
beyond that softly breaking tho line, three
the deep In the distance rolls the Atlantic, ami
here it breaks constantly upon these shores with
long eloquent roll of the seas Incompatible music
Every breeze that fans your face comes laden with
briny odor, mingled with the breath Of pines, and
you look from your window the lawn your gaze
dwes deli GIFTED waves Of nodIing golden rod aud
Infinite wilderness of dancing silver waves. such
retreat may well be called lovely
But experience has taught some of US that the
loveliest PAGES in the world lose lueh If their
chantment when they overwhelmed by numbers
and by fashion For the full enjoym OF them you
must either be alone alone with the chosen
rae of your heart The presence OF many persons
constralnt, and the sequence OF constra
is aItn'e aud dIdness Tie project Of giving dla-
matte performance upon the lawn OF the NJ seouono
House was accordingly than commonly feiici ou'
1t started by Mrs John B. oehoefei, that dis
tnguished and brilliant actress Agnes Booth, whose
career of twenty-five years upon the Newiork stage
has not only made her famous, but much endeared her
troops OF friends In the capital. The execution Of
it has exacted great and labor from many persons
They ought a,suredy 10 well pleased with tue
suit. Nothing could have been arranged better cal
clated than this dispcl the chill of self conscious
ness which customaIy congcals the Diood of the
side pilgrim at the fashionable summer hotel. The
bare announcement of 1t sulced to inspire universal
interest In this region. Boston, Ia ali cultivated cir
cles, quickly became excited. For many days this
hotel has been crowded. At dawn this morning the
town wls awake Special trains have come hitler
from the city Of the golden DOME an Carriage, OF all
descriptions, among them some superb Tai iyy
coaches. Eques TRAN arstocrats. whose dashing
trance made indeed radiant spectacle, have streamed
upon this point from every quarter, Increasing the
great hrong of eager and happy spectators thus sud-
denly furni,ed with something for and to do
At least one hou and people have seen the perform
Of As YOu Like It" gwen for the first time In
this country, upon the turf and under the shade
OF melancholy bougs. IL Is the first Of comedies and
the most lovely of pastoral plays In any language
and perfectly pastoral representation of 1t
counted feasible and likely to please The experiment
was long made in England, under the direction VI
the late Mr. Goodwin, aid made with success. What
man has done, woman certainly may do The word
OF Agnes Booth sufficient attract noble cohort
OF workers, and of this kind elsewhere
have exceeded that which has crowned her abors and
those of her spirited associates In this performance
The day has been perfect day Of bright SUM hnc
clear blue Sky, cool breczes and generally tranquil
weather. The winds hushed. the waves rolled
In gently and made scarce audible murmur on the
sandy beach. 1t had been feared that the crash Of
breakers and the rustic OF boughs would drown tAe
voices OF the actors. but In the delicious calm almost
every word was heard dis ncty all the marquee
tent which served for theatre Tho musical part Of
" As You Like It." which is often sighted,
rendered with exceptional and with an effect Of
rare beauty The leading vocalist was Lillian Conway
handsome creature with rich voice and due sense
Of the sentiment alike Of the situation and the music.
H. e Barnabee, W. H. Mcdonald, c. II. Adams G. w.
Want, L. W. Knowles, c. T. Buffum, L. L. White and
j. X. Barry united in The Deer song The effect Of
the hunters horns I'm the distance especially dc
lightful At times the whole woodland seemed full u
flying echoes at once nspiiting and softly meodous.
1t happens that this particular music Is better for tho
open air than for any ncosure and supcrbiy
done ths part VI the represent alton may well be cd
perfect.
An Auditorium had been maize by nclosIrg undo,
canvas central tract of the lawn about one hundred
feet square In this ranged upward of twelve
hundred seats. Tho stage, showing the Wood of Ar
den was eontrved by wallinG In with cedar branches
grove OF about hundred trees, many OF which
planted fun grown for the effect. No canva- was
used here. AZ the back appeared the dense cOpso
which Is the southern margin OF the lava. The dIess-
Ing rooms were tents closely NAKED with green
ooughs Nothing could have been better devise for
rural stage The Judgment and tas o. of Mrs. Agnes
Booth Scboefel In this conspicuousy shown and
the expeditions artist had most efcien help nom Mr.
sehoeife, william Seymour, stage Manager g. W.
Floyd, Edward Morse, carpenter, and Charles Kelly
property man OF the Boston Park Theatre. Tho band
of twenty-five pieces was led by J. J. Braham.
The comedy contains reasons why the scene should
be laid In France about the time of Charles tho Eighth
but IFS foliage, flowers and atmo phore distinctly
Warwlehshire. Tho scene to-day revived memories
of many hooks ATOMS ia Avon The piece dressed
In costumes from tho wardrobe of Rose Coghl H. who
played Rosaiind The performance has long been dis
tlnguished IL to day remarkably brilliant with
that Astounding life and ex,ltng OF womsn's
power anu beauty wlheh certainly the poet intended
to enlbody. 1t Is gieeful Rosalnd passionate
one, and 1t Is more human than poetic This view OF
the character well founded, and the execution
expert and vigorous. Tho lthc figure the sweet face,
the voice In which thore Is not note of soIrOw
and the free bearing of toned TO woods male
this very charming image OF Shahespeares itiI OF
female cHchartment Agnes Booth had proiigous
welcome AUar y. I!ei sigma ability Is more
spcuous than when one thinks of her power
characters of passion her ieheiD in burIesque and
now her fne assumption of rustic awkWartness, comic
without carclessness anu rich with beauty
less Of all adornment and grace. IL Is perfect
Audrey. Frank Mayo greatly Interested Jaqdcs.
There is mind la everything that he does. Inl- per-
forlnance had rich background OF thought, experience
aud suffering, Solid npre OF cnaraNinr sunh